ANZAC Day the Cyprus Way

The alarm was startling at 4am.  Not so bad for me but deadly for Ross who got to bed at 12.30am due to a very busy week at work.  We woke Jessie and Angus who took it pretty well and left Sam & Anna asleep in the care of Monica who slept over to help us out.  It's a common expression in our house these days: "What would we do without Monica?" No wonder this was the first Dawn Service we've been able to attend since the arrival of children!

Because the ANZAC cemetery is located in the Buffer Zone; we were shuttled through the gates via United Nations mini-vans.  Police and military personnel all decked out in full uniform & medals had our children fairly wide eyed for that time of day.  The service was a formal, sit down affair with numerous prayers and beautiful pieces of literature being read out.  We had one veteran in attendance; a Greek Australian who had fought in the Battle of Tobruk in WWII. Many wreaths were laid and all the Dawn Service traditions were kept, helping the small contingent of Australian & New Zealanders to feel very at home. I found it an aptly reflective time, helping to put life into perspective. As the sun rose and illuminated our surroundings we looked up to see both Greek and Turkish soldiers watching over us from their respective posts on either side of the buffer zone.  The military is always visible here.

At one point during the service, a 'Turkish-Australian' police officer read an excerpt from the famous letter that Ataturk wrote to the mothers of the fallen Australian soldiers.  It was a poignant moment, especially in this place where the reality of a frozen conflict is all too apparent:

"Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives,

you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country,

therefore rest in peace.

There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us,

Where they lie side by side, here in this country of ours.

You, the mothers, who sent their sons from far away countries, wipe away your tears,

Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace.

After having lost their lives on this land,

they have become our sons as well."

Despite the kids getting a bit cool throughout the service, they were both very attentive and we were glad they came.  The promise of the "Gunfire Breakfast" afterwards was enough food for thought and, I suppose, 'thought for food' kept them quiet.  We sat with a few sergeants from the British Military, hearing stories of their various posts which change every 2yrs. No doubt Cyprus is not a hardship posting!  Their children attend Boarding School in England, providing them with a home away from the ever-changing family home. I felt quite fortunate to live here and have all our kids with us. After a quick feed, it was time to get off to work and school.  No ANZAC Day rest allowed here.

'Twas a morning to remember...stepping out of our normal routine to remember those who served and sacrificed so many years ago.  Lest we forget.